LAS VEGAS — While everyone else in town was either sleeping or getting back from a big night out, Julian Champagnie was getting up shots.
After appearing in games on three consecutive days and arriving in Las Vegas Thursday night, the former St. John’s star made arrangements to get into the UNLV practice gym at 5:30 a.m. local time.
“When people tell you to shoot the basketball and you don’t make any 3s, that’s a problem,” the Brooklyn native told The Post. “It’s a personal thing. I don’t like missing shots. I have to feel like I’m doing something. I can’t just miss shots and not do something about it.”
That work ethic is what turned Champagnie from an under-recruited prospect to one of the best wing scorers in college basketball and now a professional on a two-way contract with the 76ers. Champagnie wasn’t happy with how he performed on offense in the Salt Lake City Summer League, which ended Thursday. Known for his perimeter jump shot, he failed to hit a 3-pointer in 10 attempts, although he did average five rebounds in the three games.
It has been a whirlwind few months for the 6-foot-8 Champagnie. He worked out for 14 teams prior to the NBA Draft and went undrafted, but agreed to a two-way contract with the 76ers almost immediately after the draft. It was the same path his twin brother, Justin, took a year ago. Justin then appeared in 36 games with the Raptors last season, while averaging 21.1 points and 8.8 rebounds in the G-League.
Getting a two-way contract was the 21-year-old Champagnie’s goal entering the 2022 draft. He understood that as a projected second-round selection there was a chance he wouldn’t hear his name called. There were a few teams he talked to his agent about — the Cavaliers considered drafting him at No. 56 — and Philadelphia was one franchise on which they all were high.
“If I would’ve gotten a summer league deal, I probably would’ve been panicking more. I got a two-way, I have nothing to complain about,” Chamnpagnie said on the eve of his first summer league game in Las Vegas, Saturday against the Raptors. “I have nothing to worry about. I got an opportunity I wanted.
“There’s plenty of guys who go from undrafted, two-way, even G-League deals, and get to where they want. At the end of the day, it comes down to the work.”
He has leaned on Justin, along with some of his older summer league teammates, such as Isaiah Joe and former Big East foe Paul Reed, over the last week. This is a new experience for Champagnie. The biggest challenge is adjusting to a new role. For the first time in his career, he isn’t starting. He’s coming in and out of games, facing better athletes and games are played at a faster pace than college. He’s doing his best to adapt.
After going scoreless in his first game in Salt Lake City, Champagnie felt he took steps forward in the next two contests. He grabbed 10 rebounds in the second game. He made two of his five shots in the third game and had two assists. Being consistent, with energy and effort, in Las Vegas is his priority.
“That will be my emphasis the next couple of games: Don’t come out flat, come out with energy,” Champagnie said. “Whether you’re in there for 10 minutes, two minutes, you start, don’t start, do something. If it’s rebound, go rebound. If it’s slide and play defense, go play defense.”
Saturday was supposed to be a big day for the Champagnie family, the first time the twins faced each other in a game. But Justin, nursing a hand injury, is not expected to play for the Raptors. The face-off will instead have to wait, possibly until an actual NBA game at some point in the near future.
“Hopefully,” Champagnie said, “I’ll see him this year.”